1998-99 record: 19-54-9, 47 points, 4th Southeast Division
Coach: Steve Ludzik (first-year Lightning coach)
New faces: Owner William Davidson, GM Rick Dudley, Ludzik, G Dan Cloutier, D Andrei Zyuzin, D Mario Larocque, D Paul Mara, LW Andreas Johansson
Losses: Former owner Art Williams, former GM-coach Jacques Demers, LW Rob Zamuner, C Jason Bonsignore, G Derek Wilkinson, D Kjell Samuelsson, G Corey Schwab, D David Wilkie
Strengths: Nowhere to go but up. Tampa Bay staggered to a second straight last-place finish with only 19 wins. Tampa Bay may have solved its goaltending problems with the acquisition of Cloutier. The Bolts used six goalies last season and finished dead last in goals-against. The Lightning have three solid centers in Chris Gratton, Darcy Tucker and Vincent Lecavalier. Tucker had a breakout season, playing all 82 games and leading the team in scoring while accruing 176 penalty minutes. Ottawa wanted him as compensation for losing Dudley, but Tampa Bay wisely would not part with him. Despite the dismal statistics, the Lightning defense should be an improving unit with youngsters Pavel Kubina, Zyuzin, Mara and Larocque.
Weaknesses: Massive instability. The Lightning have a new owner, new general manager and new coach as they seek the second winning season in team history. William Davidson is Tampa Bay's second new owner in as many years. He gave up Zamuner – a year removed from a spot on the Canadian Olympic team – to secure Dudley, who worked for him with Detroit of the IHL. Dudley hired Ludzik, who worked for him with the Vipers but has no NHL head coaching experience. Offense. The Bolts were dead last in the league with 179 goals and boasted only one player with more than 13. The Lightning also must improve on the road, where they have combined for 13 wins over the past two seasons.
Ludzik says: "It's going to be a situation where it's got to be 20 guys, and we can't have any passengers at any time during the season or during a game. And we can't afford to make stupid mistakes. That kills a team and that's a learning process. Mentally, it's the No. 1 thing that we're fighting now. And we have to get these guys mentally turned around."